Are 2014 Formula 1 Cars Slower? Analysing Lap Times at Australian Grand Prix

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: March 25, 2014

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Coming into the 2014 Formula One season, there were reports that the cars could be up to five seconds slower per lap under the new regulations.

Following the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the new season, we can confidently say that is not the case.

For now, the cars are certainly slower. By comparing some of the FIA's timing data from Melbourne in 2013 and 2014, we can get an idea of how much slower.

First, here are the fastest laps from each year:



While the gap is over three seconds, this does not tell the whole story.



Kimi Raikkonen set the 2013 fastest lap at the very end of the grand prix, with almost no fuel remaining. Nico Rosberg posted the fastest lap of this year's race on lap 19, with approximately two-thirds of his fuel left.

With less fuel, the Mercedes could have gone much quicker at the end of the race, but with a commanding lead, Rosberg backed off to ensure the car made it to the finish.

But one quick lap does not really tell us much in terms of the relative speeds of the 2013 and 2014 cars. What about over the distance of a full race?

Well, here are the average lap times over the entire grand prix for two drivers from each year. Have a look and I will explain why each driver was chosen: (Note: These averages represent full-racing laps only, excluding in- and out-laps for pit stops and the four safety car laps in 2014.)



Comparing the two winners' times—Raikkonen and Rosberg—we find a much smaller gap than existed between their single-fastest laps. And with Rosberg managing his pace, as noted above, the real gap is likely even smaller than the 1.890 seconds per lap shown here.



The performance of Rosberg's Mercedes was so far above the rest of the field in Australia, though, that Kevin Magnussen's average lap time is also included. His McLaren provides a m...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Formula 1

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